Want to get your original artwork in everyone’s wallet? The Mayor’s Office and San Francisco Public Library are hosting an ImproveSF.com challenge asking you to design new versions of San Francisco Public Library cards, in honor of national Library Card month. Starting today (September 4) and continuing through October 5, children, teens and adults will have a chance to submit their original artwork for consideration.

Five winning designs will be featured on new San Francisco library cards issued in 2013. There are more than 400,000 San Francisco library cards in active circulation. San Francisco Public Library issues about 60,000 new cards each year.

“ImproveSF and the San Francisco Public Library have formed a great civic partnership to engage our vibrant and creative communities in designing and voting for our next library cards,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “This challenge highlights the important and innovative role of our libraries in continuing to provide free, equal access to information to support the success of our residents.”

“Our libraries are part of the fabric of San Francisco, true civic resources that keep our community well informed by opening doors to a wealth of materials and services for all ages, simply with the swipe of a library card. We can’t wait to see the public take ownership of the library card designs and create our next generation of cards,” said City Librarian Luis Herrera.

The public will get to vote for the winning library card designs through ImproveSF.com. ImproveSF is a citywide program that generates opportunities for the City and Country of San Francisco and its residents to work together via online community challenges voted on by the public.

Artwork entries are accepted in five categories, divided by grade or age: 2nd Grade and under; 3rd-5th Grades; Middle School; High School; and Adult. Artwork submission forms will be distributed through San Francisco schools and libraries and they can be printed out online from sfpl.org or ImproveSF.com.

Entrants competing in the high school or adult category can visit ImproveSF.com and register for an account to submit their designs digitally. Artists competing in the grade school or middle school categories can submit their forms to a local library or ask an art teacher or parent to help them submit digitally on ImproveSF.com. Artwork submissions can also be mailed to San Francisco Public Library, Public Affairs Dept. 100 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA 94102.

The Library Card Design Challenge is being created with the help of Captricity, an award-winning Silicon Valley-based technology startup that has developed an advanced data extraction service to digitize paper-based information.

To find out more details and learn how to vote for your favorite designs call (415) 557-4277 or visit sfpl.org or ImproveSF.com.